Melolobium is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae.[1] It includes 14 species of small shrubs or perennial herbs native to southern Africa,[1] which are found in southern and eastern Namibia, southwestern Botswana, and most of South Africa.
Melolobium | |
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Melolobium aethiopicum | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Tribe: | Genisteae |
Genus: | Melolobium Eckl. & Zeyh. |
Species[1] | |
14; see text | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Sphingium E.Mey. (1835) |
These plants are perennial herbs and small shrubs. Leaves are often sticky with exudate from small surface glands. Some have spine-tipped branches.[1] The leaves have three leaflets. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme of flowers. The flowers are yellow, sometimes fading orange or purple.[2]
Species
editMelolobium comprises the following species:[1][3][4]
- Melolobium adenodes Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Melolobium aethiopicum (L.) Druce
- Melolobium alpinum Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Melolobium calycinum Benth.
- Melolobium candicans (E. Mey.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Melolobium exudans Harv.
- Melolobium humile Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Melolobium lampolobum (E.Mey.) Moteetee & B.-E.van Wyk
- Melolobium macrocalyx Dümmer
- Melolobium microphyllum (L.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
- Melolobium obcordatum Harv.
- Melolobium stipulatum Harv.
- Melolobium subspicatum Conrath
- Melolobium wilmsii Harms
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Melolobium Eckl. & Zeyh. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ Moteetee, A., & van Wyk, B. E. (2006). A revision of the genus Melolobium (Genisteae, Fabacaeae). South African Journal of Botany, 72(1), 51-98.
- ^ "ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Melolobium". International Legume Database & Information Service. Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ USDA; ARS; National Genetic Resources Program. "GRIN species records of Melolobium". Germplasm Resources Information Network—(GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved 15 April 2014.